When is a battery truely dead?

[Spitfire750]

Hello All, We are new to this caravaning malarky so please expect a lot of stooopid questions from me

Ok just got our very first damp riddled van and plan to go off on some big adventures in it (hasn't really got damp but should have judging by the age of it)
Anyway, I digress. the van came with a battery which is as flat as a pancake. We've put it on charge and it been trickle charging for what seems like an eternity. When do we give up.? The light is showing that its' charging but it's been like that since Friday last week???

Any help. My husband keeps telling me I'm just impatient and it will charge in it's own sweet time. I'm a typical woman and want everything yesterday...at the latest!!

 

[Damian]

If it has been left discharged for a period of time it will not charge on a trickle charge.
It may be recoverable with correct charging using a smart charger which has an anti sulphation stage, but in all likelihood it is dead and past it.
You will probably need to get a new battery and KEEP it fully charged.

 

[Spitfire750]

Ok boss, I will try a smart charger??

If that doesn't work and I have to buy a new one I promise the KEEP it charged at all times

 

[Dustydog]

Spitfire
my previous Avon Leisure battery some 9 years old died.
I left it in the garage for months ready for the tip.
A friend with a motor home wanted a second battery.
Some 10 days later hooked up to Aldi's smart charger it came back to full life reading 12.3 volts.
it's still in use in the motor home but doesn't work hard.
Lucky maybe, but it was worth a go.

 

[Spitfire750]

Now that's the sort of story I like to read. You must a be a cup half full kinda person.....Thank you

 

[ProfJohnL]

Its certainly worth a try, Both Aldi and Lidl only have these multistage chargers for sale about once a year. So you may not find them available all year round.

They are similar to a Ctek model which are unfortunately rather more expensive, but they are good at helping to look after batteries

 

[Spitfire750]

Update: HWMBO has just got home and told me it's on an optimate charger. It has apparently recovered a battery that had a deep discharge on it. It took about two weeks but it worked

 

[Damian]

It may work,who knows, time will tell.
If it does not, it just means a new battery.

 

[xtrailman]

Don't forget to check the electrolyte level.

 

[Supertractorman]

A tip I was given years ago by a battery manufacturer was when replacing a battery is first get the correct spec and then pick the heaviest as that will be the best battery with well made contents.

David